A number of national reports have raised concerns about pre-hospital care for seriously ill and injured patients and recognised that more lives could be saved. South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has responded to this challenge by developing ‘critical care paramedics’ (CCPs) with enhanced clinical capabilities.
This report outlines the key findings and lessons from an evaluation of the CCP programme carried out by Dr Ashok Jashapara, senior lecturer in knowledge management at Royal Holloway, University of London. It looks at the achievements and challenges of this clinical innovation at SECAmb to treat high-risk patients.